Cannabinoids in the Improvement of Cognitive Function

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that can be found in humans, plants and animals. Cannabinoids from plants are called phytocannabinoids and other cannabinoids from plants or humans are usually refereed to as endocannabinoids meaning the cannabinoids the human or animal body has produced itself.

These cannabinoids are also known as eicosanoids and have a regulatory purpose within their pathway system known as the endocannabinoid system or ECS for short. The cannabinoids are signalling molecules i.e. signalling other molecules in our bodies to do their jobs or not. In other words this means they are responsible for keeping our bodies running in an optimal way. If we get sick or cut our defenses kick in to help us heal or if we simply exist they will keep us alive.

When our ECS does not regulate our bodies correctly we can suffer from a wide variety of conditions from depression to acne or even cancer to anxiety. To treat these potential issues we are usually prescribed or purchase opiate based medications such as pain killers or anti-depressants etc.

Cannabinoids from the cannabis plant or even the hemp plant such as Cannabidiol (CBD) are known to have anti-inflammatory properties for a wide range on conditions as, does THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), which is why further research is being conducted into the use of cannabis based medications.

Cannabis Can Affect Long Term Memory

Cognitive dysfunctions are paralleled with long-term cannabis use, but the factors of use that contribute to these dysfunctions and the nature and duration of cognitive dysfunction remain a mystery. To evaluate the effects of the endurance of cannabis use on selective areas of cognitive working among users needing treatment for cannabis dependence. A study in the United States between 1997 and 2000 among 102 near-daily cannabis users was carried out.

Brain tests measured attention and memory. Long-term cannabis users showed morbidly less than shorter-term users and regulations on tests of memory and attention. The results of the study go on to confirm that long-term heavy cannabis smokers show dysfunctions in memory and attention that catalyze beyond the period of intoxication and go down an even worse path with the years of frequent cannabis use.

Micro-Dosing of Cannabis Can Be Beneficial to Users with Chronic Pain

This research dissected the nature of cognitive dysfunction related with long-term cannabis use employing results collected from a large clinical trial of chronic users needing treatment for cannabis addiction. The research collected findings from 102 cannabis smokers that were assessed before the treatment on angelically selected neuropsychological tests with 33 nonuser regulations.

The parameters of cannabis utility that contributed to dysfunction was examined. It was concluded that performance would destruct as the years went by with regular use. It has been hypothesized that micro-dosing cannabis, when chronic pain comes to call, could be beneficial to the regular user. More research is needed to validate this into stone.

Registered with the British Psychological Society, breaking the taboo on mental health issues is one of the driving forces in Jonathan's life. His background in biomedicine gives him additional understanding of the factors that work together to influence the human condition.